6.11.2009

Something New (+ Some Thoughts on Food)

I mentioned last week that I had something new to share with you, and here goes… It’s my other blog, Raising Foodies. I’ve been a bit obsessed with food of late – buying it, cooking it, eating it, reading about it, so I wanted a single place to keep all of my sundry gastro-ramblings.

As you may have gleaned from the title, the blog’s primary focus is our family’s food “adventures” as we get the girlies to expand their palates beyond Annie’s Mac & Cheese, but you know I couldn’t stop there (I’m not that good at staying on task), so there’s more…

I’ve been fixated on the sad, sad state of food in our country of late. And (not unlike the bubble I occupied during my college years in Austin when it was inconceivable to me that W could unseat Ann Richards as Governor of Texas), I’ve found myself naively believing that in matters of food, things are much better than reality based on my friends in the blogosphere.

So many of us already buy local + organic, are members of CSAs, have little gardens in our backyard, even have hens… We cook, we share recipes, we take lovely food photos, but in reality it’s a bad food scene friends. Just walk into any major chain grocery store in America and take in the sheer amount of (prepare for a bad word, sorry) Shit on the shelves… Bagle-fuls anyone? There’s actually a box of those in the freezer at my office right now, belonging to an otherwise highly educated, informed, conscientious, tasteful co-worker. Seriously, Bagle-fuls??? It’s mind blowing.

So there’s that.

I also want to use this new blog to debunk the idea that you have to be a stellar cook to prepare and enjoy great food. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a great cook. I make a handful of things really well, another handful of items in my repertoire are average but improving, and then there are a slew of dishes that I’m, well, let’s just say attempting with enthusiasm.

I loved to cook in college and cooked well, I even worked a summer stint as a baker at a camp in Canada, churning out literally hundreds of loaves of bread a day. Then there was a huge cooking break and with it a major “rusting” of my culinary skills… Newly married, we subsisted on restaurant meals and take-out, and when we did eat at home, I left the cooking to my hubby, who is a rather stellar cook. After having the girlies there was (much) more take out, lots of rotisserie chicken from Whole Foods and lots of pasta… basically whatever was quick and easy. But now, the cooking bug’s back with a vengeance, and I’m determined to show the girlies how important food is on every level.

I’m guessing there are others out there like me, and what I’m hoping is that we can learn and share together. I think the more we talk about food -- with each other, with our kids -- the more we vote with our wallets at the grocery store and farmer's market and fully understand what we’re eating, where it came from, the impact of our choices on our health, on the earth, the more we share ideas, the better off we’ll all be.

I am definitely in! I just read all the posts on the new blog. It's a fabulous concept, and I'm sure we can swap stories and ideas for how to encourage good eating habits in our kids. I'm adding it to my blog favorites right now. Thanks!

Absolutely in! You have me very excited! We are in the process of adopting our little boy from foster care, and since we've had him, it's been a culinary adventure! I love cooking for a kid who appreciates good food, and who isn't afraid to try new things.Can't wait to look at the new blog.

SO in it's not even funny! As of last night I just finished my copy of "in defense of food" and am determined to make even more changes to my family meals. The Western diet is disgraceful. I look forward to your blog and reading new recipes that I can enjoy with my family as well!

I'm definitely in! I've been making these efforts for the past year now, and I am actually baking my own bread these days! (I use to microwave veggie burgers and call that cooking so I've come a looong way...)

I also recently became engaged and we are planning to use a caterer that owns the farm they source their produce, which was really important to us and it was a lot harder to come by than I thought. My fiance and I are already talking about how to expose our future little ones to a diverse range of food groups, easier said than done I am sure. I will be definitely be following your endeavors.

Also, if you haven't picked up a copy of Animal Vegetable Miracle, it is a must read! http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/

I love it. I just started reading the "The Eater's Manifesto" and have been trying really hard to incorporate more fruits and veggies into our lives, but I find that I'm the only one doing the eating and the kids are asking for chicken nuggets on the nights I branch out. This will be really helpful and at the very least will help me feel better about some of my failures, your stories really hit home.

It's funny, because I was just starting to wonder how you get your kids to eat "fancy" food, because mine won't even look at vegetables. Also, I am a horrible cook, so I immediately disregard recipes with more than five steps! Sounds like your new venture is just what the doctor ordered! Off to check it out...

I just forwarded this post to my boyfriend, which was then followed by three separate emails expressing my support of the cause and critique of the way we view food in America. I cannot wait to add the new blog to my daily reads. What an inspiring way to make a change!

amen. Right now I am reading these two great books by Nina Planck, Real Food: What to eat and why and Real Food for Mother & Baby. It is such a simple idea...going back to REAL and traditional food. We're one of the few countries where our life expectancy has gone DOWN instead of up over the last several years. Your blog is important and timely.

Awesome! Love the new blog... we just joined a CSA for the first time this year! Today is our second pick up, but last week was so fun to have new veggies to cook with, admittedly some that I just don't buy. So I love the challenge! If you are interested, I would love to do a guest post for you on how we are working to integrate all the CSA veggies into our life (even into the kids diets too!) Just a thought...

Oh, I am soooooo in! The first blog that I ever stumbled upon was yours and it blew me away. I was like, a blog? what is that?!? But I have loved your sense of humor and your amazing sense of style (I mean your wallpaper had me at hello)....so, I will gleefully add your new adventure to my blog roll. If you haven't already, you must, must, must read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by the wonderful Barbara Kingsolver. Mind Blowing & incredible & a fun read. You are going to be awesome! Can't wait!

hell yes! its about time you youngin's caught up ;)i have been cooking and eating organically for 10 years. it is lovely to see that finally it is fast becomming the norm. when i started out 10 years ago on my own culinary adventures it was next to impossible to find anything organic OR local and sustainable and i live in a metro area. now with a whole foods every 5 to 10 miles it is easier but also STILL ridiculously expensive, can we say..400 to 500 dollars a WEEK for a family of THREE?!?!!! (i know!!! i'm working on that!!!)my husband and i have been foodies for a long time often times alienating friends b/c they were all eating crap laden with crap and thinking we were "weird". now we just sit back and have a giggle bc the majority of those friends who scoffed and judged are now eating the way we do. its nice to see it all change and for my daughter's sake to try and help her get a better understanding of the importance of healthy food. so, yes...i am in and can't wait to start reading your new blog!!well done.xoj

preach it, girl! i've recently been turned on to the horrors of food in the u.s. after finding out that my hormone levels are completely wonked out by the garbage i unknowingly eat every day. i've gone 100% organic when i can and abandoned plastic and suddenly have to rethink the way i eat, and it's ridiculous to me that "real" food is so hard to come by these days! good on you for teaching your daughters; even if they resist, it is sinking in!

Fantastic. Looking forward to your posts. We've been focused on our food and how it impacts us around here for a bit. I have a lot more to learn and my summer reading list has me heading in just this direction. Can't wait for what you have cooking.